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Post by booner22 on Dec 10, 2021 9:24:37 GMT -5
I recently acquired a new bolt action ML and am relatively new to load work up in these guns for extended range accuracy. My barrel is a brux Modified sendero at 25in with asg ignition. I had a few lbs of benchmark and wanted to try to find a decent load with it. I shot 1 grain increments from 88-92 with an aeromax 303 velocity as follows. As an aside shots 1-3 essentially went into the same whole at 100yards.
88 2836 89 2873 90 2879 91 2901 92 2938.
After looking at velocity spreads I went back and loaded 3 charges at 89.5. They averaged 2876 with a 6fps es. I also loaded a few more at 92 to see what how it would do at a little higher velocity. across 3 shots es was 20fps. Would there be any reason to look further in that upper range or settle with the first node I found?
I haven’t shot it any further than 135 yards yet(all that I can shoot at the house).
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Post by 257weatherby on Dec 10, 2021 13:12:55 GMT -5
If i found a node that quick with center fire , it would be a stop right there moment. A low ES that good would offset the benefit if any in the gain in FPS and unless i am wrong you are close to max load any way, but part of the fun off these guns it the testing and shooting, just my .02
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Post by booner22 on Dec 10, 2021 13:28:42 GMT -5
If i found a node that quick with center fire , it would be a stop right there moment. A low ES that good would offset the benefit if any in the gain in FPS and unless i am wrong you are close to max load any way, but part of the fun off these guns it the testing and shooting, just my .02 I did go ahead and site the gun in with the 89.5 load. I was also curious about how much es affects grouping in ML. I guess the question does 92 have the potential to shoot as good as the 89-90 charge at a distance of say 400 yards. I bought the gun with the hopes of getting to that range in my head. I am enjoying the gun so far but yes wanted to tinker a little more if there was any value in it.
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Post by buckeye68 on Dec 10, 2021 13:35:02 GMT -5
With a jump of 37 FPS on your last shot, I would say you’ve got another node you can find if you look for it.
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Post by booner22 on Dec 10, 2021 13:45:21 GMT -5
With a jump of 37 FPS on your last shot, I would say you’ve got another node you can find if you look for it. Any idea on a max load?
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Post by buckeye68 on Dec 10, 2021 14:06:35 GMT -5
You’ll want to post your shank size.
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Post by booner22 on Dec 10, 2021 14:42:54 GMT -5
You’ll want to post your shank size. 1.25x5
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Post by Richard on Dec 10, 2021 15:59:07 GMT -5
I would go back and shoot that 89.5 load again...........more than just three shots! If it still produces low ES's, stick with it and just put in a few more clicks on your scope if you want to reach out further! Accuracy trumps speed!
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Post by booner22 on Dec 10, 2021 16:15:35 GMT -5
I would go back and shoot that 89.5 load again...........more than just three shots! If it still produces low ES's, stick with it and just put in a few more clicks on your scope if you want to reach out further! Accuracy trumps speed! Thanks Richard how many shots if you were working up the load would you be comfortable with? Several days of 5-10? I would assume sprinkled over a few different days and conditions
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Post by hillbill on Dec 10, 2021 21:27:39 GMT -5
I have been using Benchmark in my .45s with the 303 HC lately, I settled on 92 grains and in a 24" tube I'm getting 2920 and 2960 in a 26" tube, accuracy was very good in both guns as well as a low es BUT keep in mind every lot is slightly different, some faster, some slower, let your gun tell you what it likes. Keep in mind that a low es does not always produce your best groups, for extreme range a low es is more important as long as it groups well at extreme range. I'm sure my next lot of Benchmark will be slightly different but it's definitely a good powder with that weight range bullet. Ladder tests will generally tell you where your node is, I would do a ladder test and go from there. JMO
speeds in the 2900s with a 303 will kill anything as far as you will feel comfortable, I took an Antelope at 733 yds with this load so I know it's effective @ 500+.
I don't advocate shooting at an animal that far BUT it happened and the meat is in the freezer so all is well.
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Post by booner22 on Dec 10, 2021 22:53:52 GMT -5
I have been using Benchmark in my .45s with the 303 HC lately, I settled on 92 grains and in a 24" tube I'm getting 2920 and 2960 in a 26" tube, accuracy was very good in both guns as well as a low es BUT keep in mind every lot is slightly different, some faster, some slower, let your gun tell you what it likes. Keep in mind that a low es does not always produce your best groups, for extreme range a low es is more important as long as it groups well at extreme range. I'm sure my next lot of Benchmark will be slightly different but it's definitely a good powder with that weight range bullet. Ladder tests will generally tell you where your node is, I would do a ladder test and go from there. JMO
speeds in the 2900s with a 303 will kill anything as far as you will feel comfortable, I took an Antelope at 733 yds with this load so I know it's effective @ 500+.
I don't advocate shooting at an animal that far BUT it happened and the meat is in the freezer so all is well.
Would you recommend going a few gr higher in my current ladder test? My velocity is in line with yours and your recommendation is what had me considering playing with the 92 grain charge a little more. I do only have a magneto speed chrono so am limited on groups vs es, although it doesn’t seem to impact group size a ton so far.
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Post by hillbill on Dec 11, 2021 10:25:29 GMT -5
The MS might not effect group size much but it will certainly make it print in a different spot, wore one out so I know from experience.
I would do a 2 shot ladder test without the MS connected starting at 89 and go up a grain at a time, your groups will tell you where your node is, I posted some stuff in the .40 cal section showing an example of a ladder test, you can see the groups open up as the charge changes and then go back to one hole, that will be your sweet spot, usually it will be on a flat spot with velocity.
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Post by booner22 on Dec 11, 2021 11:59:39 GMT -5
The MS might not effect group size much but it will certainly make it print in a different spot, wore one out so I know from experience. I would do a 2 shot ladder test without the MS connected starting at 89 and go up a grain at a time, your groups will tell you where your node is, I posted some stuff in the .40 cal section showing an example of a ladder test, you can see the groups open up as the charge changes and then go back to one hole, that will be your sweet spot, usually it will be on a flat spot with velocity. How far can I go above 92? At 92 I hadn’t found the second node yet?
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Post by Richard on Dec 11, 2021 16:35:57 GMT -5
Booner22...l am a benchrest shooter and to me, 5 shot groups is what you shoot in competition. Unless I am just working up velocity, then two or three shots is sufficient but for precision, I am looking at five shots and then repeatability on subsequent range trips. For hunting at reasonable distances, you could probably scrub the five shot groups. You don't need that degree of precision to kill deer.
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Post by hillbill on Dec 11, 2021 20:39:14 GMT -5
I'm not sure how far above 92 you can go? I have found no need to run any higher so for me to tell you to go higher would be irresponsible on my part having never tried it myself. I can say that in my rigs 92 showed no signs of pressure but I'm running a different ignition system and modules than you are, Hankins H.I.S. and AB magnum modules are what I'm using.
For most practical hunting as Richard said, 5 shot groups are not really needed, find what shoots good and go fill the freezer.
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Post by booner22 on Dec 11, 2021 22:42:47 GMT -5
I'm not sure how far above 92 you can go? I have found no need to run any higher so for me to tell you to go higher would be irresponsible on my part having never tried it myself. I can say that in my rigs 92 showed no signs of pressure but I'm running a different ignition system and modules than you are, Hankins H.I.S. and AB magnum modules are what I'm using. For most practical hunting as Richard said, 5 shot groups are not really needed, find what shoots good and go fill the freezer. Thanks I will shoot some more when I can get a little further range to check group size.
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miked
Junior Member
Posts: 88
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Post by miked on Nov 20, 2023 21:56:53 GMT -5
Any idea what pressure looks like? I would like to try Benchmark in my Scout conversion with 240/250 grain bullets but no idea where max pressure is for that with Benchmark?
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Post by booner22 on Nov 23, 2023 22:52:10 GMT -5
Any idea what pressure looks like? I would like to try Benchmark in my Scout conversion with 240/250 grain bullets but no idea where max pressure is for that with Benchmark? I don’t have any idea but from my understanding benchmark would be a slower burning powder and probably not best suited for a break action with a light bullet. I think there are plenty of established loads for the conversions that I wouldn’t try to reinvent the wheel. I have a conversion also and have gotten great groups with established loads of 4198, h322, N110, and 4227. I don’t think you need to look beyond those.
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Post by hillbill on Nov 24, 2023 6:35:07 GMT -5
Agree completely
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miked
Junior Member
Posts: 88
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Post by miked on Nov 26, 2023 8:07:55 GMT -5
Any idea what pressure looks like? I would like to try Benchmark in my Scout conversion with 240/250 grain bullets but no idea where max pressure is for that with Benchmark? I don’t have any idea but from my understanding benchmark would be a slower burning powder and probably not best suited for a break action with a light bullet. I think there are plenty of established loads for the conversions that I wouldn’t try to reinvent the wheel. I have a conversion also and have gotten great groups with established loads of 4198, h322, N110, and 4227. I don’t think you need to look beyond those. I use 4198 and a Duplex of N110/4198 with good results. Benchmark has been known and tested to be extremely temp insensitive so this is what peaked my curiosity as I have a lot for my 6.5 Grendel and .338 Federal. What I find interesting is that you and a couple other people have said Benchmark is a slower powder. However, in the two other calibers I mentioned above they are only used in light for caliber bullets as it is a faster powder. Where the question comes in is that 4198 is also used in those calibers as well but with heavier bullets than that with Benchmark. This is why I thought it might work and give me a more temp stable load without Duplexing. My ML season can go from 80 to single digits and back in a snap of the fingers.
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